The Sage of Long-life & the Arhats Confusion
The Sage of Long-life is a figure borrowed from Chinese mythology. He is generally depicted as elderly, often holding a string of prayer beads. The composition of such a painting should contain six elements: 1. rock of long life, 2. water of long life, 3. tree of long life, 4. man with long life, 5. birds of long life and 6. antelope of long life. The Sage of Long-life paintings represent health, well-being and a safe clean environment. The arhats are always depicted as a group of sixteen with Shakyamuni Buddha and the two close disciples as the central image of the composition. The depictions of both the Sage of Long-life and the Arhats are based on the Chinese model of Taoist Immortals and therefore have a similar appearance - although otherwise unrelated.